Preserving Traditions in the Pecos Wilderness Incorporating the adjacent roadless areas into the existing Pecos Wilderness and designating some places as special management areas would continue to protect traditional users’ rights and the customary uses of the lands and waters.

Current Grazing Will Continue in Wilderness  Livestock grazing currently occurs in the Pecos Wilderness. Grazing that occurs today in the proposed additions to the Pecos Wilderness will continue if the area is designated as wilderness.

 Congressional direction on grazing in wilderness areas is very well established. The Wilderness Act of 1964 permits grazing to continue in wilderness and there are established guidelines for managing grazing in wilderness. Today, most wilderness legislation includes language directing that grazing management should follow the Congressional guidelines that reinforce section 4(d)(4)(2) of the Wilderness Act, which states that “the grazing of livestock, where established prior to the effective date of this Act, shall be permitted to continue subject to such reasonable regulations as are deemed necessary by the Secretary of Agriculture.” ¹

 In the committee report accompanying 1980 “My family has run cattle and sheep in the legislation designating wilderness in several western area for three generations. Our water states (PL 96-560), the House Interior and Insular comes from the high mountain peaks of Affairs Committee developed comprehensive the Pecos Wilderness and expanding these guidance on grazing in National Forest Wilderness.² areas will not only protect my allotment  In short, this guidance emphasizes that grazing from development, but also will keep it should not be curtailed simply because an area is available in its current state for my designated wilderness; facilities may be maintained; new improvements and facilities should be focused grandchildren and those who will follow.” on resource protection; and motorized equipment Floyd Ricardo Fresquez should be used sparingly, and mostly in emergency Pecos Wilderness Grazing Permittee situations or where permitted prior to designation. Mora County

¹ The Wilderness Act, section 4d | ² House of Representatives 96-617 Photos: Grazing in Wilderness, courtesy of The Wilderness Society | Fishing in Trampas Lake, courtesy of Nick Streit | New Mexico Acequia, Flickr and Fishing Traditions Thrive  Hunting and fishing in places like the Pecos are time-tested and important traditions in New Mexico. For centuries, sportsmen have been a leading part of the movement to conserve wildlife and wildlands. This tradition would continue in the incorporated roadless areas surrounding the existing Pecos Wilderness.  Hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, camping, canoeing and other non-mechanized outdoor recreation are permitted in wilderness areas. Frequently Asked Questions  The Pecos Wilderness and surrounding lands are critical habitat for Can I gather traditional herbs? , deer, bear, turkey, and one of America’s most robust herds of Yes, all existing rights will be preserved. Just as on all Forest Service land, collection of medicinal Rocky Mountain . Its waters are home to the plants and traditional herbs in wilderness areas rainbow and brown trout, as well as New Mexico’s state fish – the can be secured through Forest Service permits. Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Will access to sacred sites be affected?  Wildlife prospers in wilderness because it safeguards America’s All existing rights will be preserved. Access will cleanest water and wildest lands. In the Pecos, wilderness helps remain unchanged and sites will be protected. protect prime habitat for fish and wildlife, safeguarding cold-water Can I cut or gather firewood? fisheries and a fragile high-alpine ecosystem. Game populations Fuelwood cutting and gathering likely does not generally prosper and wildlife habitat is maintained naturally. currently occur in the proposed wilderness and special management areas because of the steep Protecting Water Quality and Customs terrain and absence of roads. To the extent that any fuelwood cutting and gathering may be  Acequias (traditional irrigation canals) and acequia associations are occurring in the proposal area, upon designation a cultural heritage in New Mexico that value uncontaminated and as wilderness, this use would be limited to dead freely flowing water systems for irrigation and growing healthy or down wood for personal use and an individual crops. Several acequia associations in Northern New Mexico rely must use hand tools when cutting and gathering. on clean water from the rivers and streams that originate in the existing Pecos Wilderness and its adjacent roadless areas.  There are no acequias, headgates or other infrastructure located within the existing or proposed wilderness areas. The roadless areas that are proposed for special management area designation would be protected from development while honoring the existing traditional uses that currently occur. Thus, special management area designations will not restrict access or limit maintenance or improvements to the irrigation infrastructure.  Many communities in New Mexico were granted land that included mountains, pastures, and water, along with communal use rights, including but not limited to hunting (caza), pasture “The addition of these roadless areas to the Pecos Wilderness will preserve (pastos), and watering (acequias and abrevederos). The Treaty of magnificent, pristine lands cherished by Guadalupe Hidalgo guaranteed the property rights associated with so many New Mexicans. Prime these land grants, and generations of land grant heirs have watersheds and irrigation waters survived off the land with these resources. Wilderness protects important to traditional land-based hunting, watersheds, pasture, and other traditional values and communities near the wilderness area resources for present and future generations. will be protected.”

Photo: Bighorns, courtesy of Sergey Trudolyubov | Painting: “The Acequia, New Mexico”, by Peter Hurd, State Senator Richard C. Martinez courtesy of D. Wigmore Fine Art, Inc (www.dwigmore.com) Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe—5